Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card Review

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"A New Cash-back Competitor"

This is Chase's all-purpose cash-back card that competes with similar cards from the other big banks. The bonus with this card: you can turn the cash-back into Ultimate Rewards points!

Using these other Chase cards, you can transfer your points into your Ultimate Rewards account to either purchase travel at 20% off in the portal, or transfer again at 1:1 to one of the travel partners.

Things to Note About the Chase Cash-back Rewards Card

One thing you should be aware of is that Chase has unofficially updated their policies to make it unlikely you will be approved for a new credit card if you have applied for more than five in the last two years, regardless of credit card issuer.

Those five cards include not only Chase cards, but all credit cards in general. However, it’s unclear whether this rule only applies to their Ultimate Rewards cards (rather than other co-branded cards).

Unfortunately, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an Ultimate Rewards card, so you may be denied approval depending on your situation.

One way around this would be to call Chase customer service and ask them to update your current Chase Freedom® Credit Card into a Chase Freedom Unlimited®. The downside here would be losing the 5% quarterly cash-back categories.

Bottom Line: If you have already applied to more than five credit cards in the last 2 years, you may not be approved for this card. In this case, you could consider upgrading your existing Chase Freedom®.

Biggest Competitors to the Card

Chase released the card soon after some other big cash back cards likely took some market share from their standard Chase Freedom®.

For those who spend larger amounts in the specific categories where these cards provide bonuses, any of the above cards could prove valuable.

Bottom Line: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® competes with many other cash-back and flat earnings rate cards out there.

The Advantage of the Chase Cards Over Other Competitors

The advantage of this card over competitors’ cards is that the cash-back can be converted into travel rewards in Chase Ultimate Rewards.

To do this, however, you must also have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card. Combining all these cards gives you have a formidable points-earning posse!

For instance, you can use the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for all travel and dining purchases, the Chase Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card or Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card for business expenses and related categories, and the Freedom Unlimited® for all other categories.

This gives you a slight edge, because you’ll earn 1.5x points rather than the 1x points you would earn with any other card, including the Chase Freedom®.

If you also add this card to your strategy, you’ll gain 5% cash-back in the quarterly categories.

Don't Get If

You just want cash-back, as there are other higher earning straight cash-back cards

Card Fees

Annual Fee

No annual fee

Foreign Transaction Fees

3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.

Interest Rates

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months

Ongoing APR: 16.99% - 25.74% Variable

Balance Transfers

0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months

Ongoing APR: 16.99% - 25.74% Variable

Cash Advance APR

26.99% Variable

U.P. Pro Tips

Combine the card with other Chase rewards cards in order to utilize the cash-back in Ultimate Rewards for travel.

This card is best used for all categories not covered by the other cards. Use it any time you would only get 1x points using the other cards, since you’ll earn 1.5x with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

The real benefits of this Chase card are unlocked when you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card: you can then use the points to transfer to travel partners.

Best Way to Maximize Points

Of course, if you are using this card on its own, you will simply use it for all transactions in order to earn the most points. Below are some ideas of how to use it when combined with other Chase cards:

Department stores during times other than the 5% rotating category of the Chase Freedom®

Using this credit card at places where you would only earn 1% on any other card is the best strategy, such as when getting your hair cut.

Best Way to Redeem Points

You can redeem all of the cash-back you earn with this card as statement credit if you wish, which is valued at 100 points per $1.

Using your reward points as cash-back in the Chase rewards portal offers the same or lesser value, and can be used for a variety of merchandise.

However, the most valuable way to redeem these points would be to get a Chase travel rewards card, and then either use the points in the travel portal for 20% off or re-transfer to a travel partner at a 1:1 ratio.

The Gritty Details: Everything Else You Need to Know

You should also note that the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has basically the same fringe benefit structure as the Chase Freedom®.

However, remember the new 5/24 rule: Chase likely won’t approve you for more than 5 Ultimate Rewards cards in a 24 month period, regardless of credit card issuer.

Other Unique Features

Purchase protection – Get $500 in theft or damages per item for up to 120 days after purchase, up to $50,000 per account. Keep all your receipts and purchase information in order to submit a claim.

Auto rental collision damage waiver – Get secondary car rental insurance when renting a car in the U.S., and primary insurance when abroad. This covers the value of the car, but you must decline the agency’s waiver.

Does the Chase Freedom Unlimited® have an annual fee?

Does the card's cash-back expire?

Brian's first ever airplane ride was in a private turbo-prop jet. He was merely an intern boy trying to make a good impression, but it turns out the plane made an impression on him. It wasn't until Brian relocated to Dallas, TX, and moved in with an American Airlines employee that he truly discovered how incredible travel could be.

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Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. For more information on our advertisers, see here.